CE 1.2.3 Write, speak, and create artistic representations to express personal experience and perspective (e.g., personal narrative, poetry, imaginative writing, slam poetry, blogs, webpages). CE 1.3.1 Compose written, spoken, and/or multimedia compositions in a range of genres (e.g., personal narrative, biography, poem, fiction, drama, creative nonfiction, summary, literary analysis essay, research report, or work-related text): pieces that serve a variety of purposes (e.g., expressive, informative, creative, and persuasive) and that use a variety of organizational patterns (e.g., autobiography, free verse, dialogue, comparison/contrast, definition, or cause and effect). CE 1.3.3 Compose essays with well-crafted and varied sentences demonstrating a precise, flexible, and creative use of language.
NETS-S:
1.b. Create original works as a means of personal or group expression 2.b. Communicate information and ideas effectively to multiple audiences using a variety of media and formats 6.a. Understand and use technology systems
Essential Questions:
How important is memory? How important is it to know our history? Would you give up your fondest memory if it meant you would also be able to forget your most painful memory, why or why not? What would happen if we had no memories?
Objectives:
Students will create a presentation on Prezi that describes one of their fondest memories. They will present their Prezis to the class. After presentations, students will write a response, in short essay form, to the following questions: Would you give up your fondest memory if it meant you would also be able to forget your most painful memory? Why or why not? Students will be expected to use the novel to back up their reasoning by quoting it in their essays.
Tools and Resources:
An Internet capable computer
Prezi website
Projector
A copy of The Giver by Lois Lowry
Reading Journal
Rationale:
This lesson allows students to make personal connections to the novel. It also encourages them to think critically about the importance of memory. The lesson gets them to present an idea to a group while also engaging their own personal interests.
Sequence of Activities:
Anticipatory Questions/ Activity:
Students will be given 5 minutes to write a response in their reading journals to the following prompt: Describe one of your best memories and one of your worst.
Body of Lesson Plan: Segment #1
After the students respond in their journals, the teacher will explain their assignment, which is to create a Prezi presentation that describes their fondest memory. The teacher will then show a sample Prezi they have created that describes a fond memory of their own. This Prezi will be presented to the class on day two of this lesson.
Segment #2
Next, the teacher will show a Jing video on how to use Prezi. Once the video has ended the teacher will move the class to the computer lab where they will be given time to work on their Prezis. Their Prezi should include at least five slides, and each slide should have an image and text. The student should explain the memory and why it is important to them. These Prezis will be presented on the following day and on day three of this lesson students will write a short essay responding to the following prompt: Would you give up your fondest memory if it meant you would also be able to forget your most painful memory? Why or why not? Students will provide quotes from the book that back up their response.
Segment #3
On day two, after the presentations, the teacher will call on students to answer the following questions: Why do you think memory is so important? Students may answer that memory helps us to know who we are. Do you think the world would be a better place if we had no memory of war? Student may answer yes, because war is a painful memory. If we all had the option of forgetting things from our pasts, do you think many people would choose to forget or to keep their memories? Student may answer that many people would choose to forget bad memories, or student may answer that people would choose to keep their memories so that they have the good ones.
Segment #4
Step 1: Students will watch the Jing video on how to use Prezi and view the sample Prezi created by the teacher. Step 2: Students will create a free Prezi account and work on their Prezis, using pictures and descriptions. These pictures can be their own personal pictures from the actual memory itself or pictures that relate to it in some other way. Step 3: Students will present their Prezis to the class. Step 4: Students will write a short essay that answers the following questions: Would you give up your fondest memory if it meant you would also be able to forget your most painful memory? Why or why not? This essay should be at least five paragraphs, one for the introduction, three for the body, and one for the conclusion. Students will have the rest of day three to work on the essay in class and it will be due the following day.
Lesson Plan 1 RB
Lesson Plan 2 RB
Lesson Plan 3 RB
Lesson Plan 4 RB
Lesson Plan 5 RB
This is a Jing video that explains how to use Prezi.
My Fondest Memory on Prezi
Sample of fondest memory Prezi.
CE 1.3.1 Compose written, spoken, and/or multimedia compositions in a range of genres (e.g., personal narrative, biography, poem, fiction, drama, creative nonfiction, summary, literary analysis essay, research report, or work-related text): pieces that serve a variety of purposes (e.g., expressive, informative, creative, and persuasive) and that use a variety of organizational patterns (e.g., autobiography, free verse, dialogue, comparison/contrast, definition, or cause and effect).
CE 1.3.3 Compose essays with well-crafted and varied sentences demonstrating a precise, flexible, and creative use of language.
2.b. Communicate information and ideas effectively to multiple audiences using a variety of media and formats
6.a. Understand and use technology systems
Activity:
Segment #1
Why do you think memory is so important?
Students may answer that memory helps us to know who we are.
Do you think the world would be a better place if we had no memory of war?
Student may answer yes, because war is a painful memory.
If we all had the option of forgetting things from our pasts, do you think many people would choose to forget or to keep their memories?
Student may answer that many people would choose to forget bad memories, or student may answer that people would choose to keep their memories so that they have the good ones.
Step 2: Students will create a free Prezi account and work on their Prezis, using pictures and descriptions. These pictures can be their own personal pictures from the actual memory itself or pictures that relate to it in some other way.
Step 3: Students will present their Prezis to the class.
Step 4: Students will write a short essay that answers the following questions: Would you give up your fondest memory if it meant you would also be able to forget your most painful memory? Why or why not? This essay should be at least five paragraphs, one for the introduction, three for the body, and one for the conclusion. Students will have the rest of day three to work on the essay in class and it will be due the following day.